It’s about the journey...

Well hi there 2019!

Has anyone else noticed the amount of messages in the mainstream at the moment that seem to go like this…

“start winning at life, give up sugar, give up drink, give up all activities you actually like doing and swap them for only exercise based pursuits and also don’t forget to look after yourself with some self care.” (exchange the words self care for expensive bath salts and I think you’ll see where I’m going with this.)

Marketeers are the cleverest of beasts. There’s a reason the series Mad Men was so enthralling (although perhaps that was more to do with Jon Hamm’s wonderful portrayal of Don Draper than the subject of marketing.) The point is that they know how to prey on our insecurities and to make big money out of them. The problem is that January is the perfect time for companies and organisations to take advantages of our post Christmas slump and our natural desire as humans to take stock and evaluate ourselves in the New Year. They swoop in with cleverly worded slogans and a million promises about helping you to “win at life.” It’s easy to get caught up in and I confess that I have done so many times over the years.

This year however. 2019. I decided the answer is no. I’m not going to make a list of resolutions, only to break them within the first month. I’m not going to allow myself to be carried along the tide of everybody else’s expectations. This year I’m going to forge ahead on my own path - at my own pace.

A few shots below of my own journey in rope. It’s good to take a step back and see the progress sometimes, before pushing forwards on the path.

first baskets to retail 2016

An early hanging basket 2016

The first large basket/bag

Refined hanging baskets 2017

Nesting Trios 2017

swirling rope mountains 2018

Striped planters A/W 2018

Textured Pot A/W 2018

Of course I believe that planning, looking after ourselves, exercise & personal fulfilment are all immensely valuable pieces of the wider puzzle of life. BUT I don’t think tackling them all at once, on the timescale of companies who can make millions from our initial spark of motivation is the best way to go about it.

Ruby Cubes began because I made tiny, tiny efforts every day that moved me towards my bigger goals and dreams. To this day, I still find that it is the best way of starting any project, both in and out of the business.

There is no “winning” - life is not a race to be won by reaching an abstract destination in someone else’s mind. Life is for living, on our own terms.